Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Calista Wu. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Calista, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I am a younger Asian American female who is a lawyer and a pop artist with my own entertainment company, and I’ve had to be the only one who looks like me in many, many rooms.
When I was a junior associate working in BigLaw, I sterilized my appearance and personality and made myself “smaller” as if I were trying to hide. This is partially because my immigrant parents told me not to stand out too much and to focus on working hard and adding value, out of their desire for me to carve out a safe, secure life for myself. I didn’t see people who looked like me where I worked, especially in management or the upper ranks, and I was afraid to mention that I sing or that I like fashion or that I go to church. I was so busy trying to do what others wanted from me that I lost sight of myself apart from the value that I brought to others and others assigned to me.
Now, I am still a lawyer with a successful legal career, and I’m fully immersed in the process of bringing who I am to the table I’m invited to and to every room that I enter. I love fashion, and I’ll wear what reflects my personality, even when I’m in a room full of lawyers or business folks. It’s an extension of my artistry and my true self, so I won’t cover up who I am, but I’ll make slight adjustments for my audience. I’m actively building my entertainment company and releasing songs as a pop artist, both centered around the message that you can be your true self and pursue the possibilities that are around you, even those you might be afraid to try. I need to walk this out myself in an authentic way because it’s the foundation behind my artistry and my company.
It’s taken me a very long time to know who I really am, to accept my purpose and calling, and to learn how to walk in it, so now, there are certain things that I won’t sacrifice because I know the cost and the true value. Sometimes we have to carve our own path by saying “no” to the safe and familiar. Some things are worth the risk.
Today, I often get invited to speak at law firms about alternative career paths, and I’m asked by many companies to talk about diversity, being both a singer and a lawyer, or entertainment in general. I realized that when I embraced the unique qualities that make me who I am and honored my individuality, my differences became some of my greatest strengths.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Calista Wu, also known as CaliStar, and I am a recording artist, attorney, entrepreneur, and web3 builder. My songs have been featured in Rolling Stone India, Vents Magazine, Music Connection Magazine, the Amazon Music Mixtape Asia playlist, and the Ones to Watch Spotify playlist. My newest song “Electric Highs” was included in the 2022 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for the Blade of the 47 Ronin film for Universal/Netflix. I am also releasing new music very soon, so stay tuned.
As an attorney, I have clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, worked in Big Law, been selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and Best Lawyers in America Ones to Watch for Banking/Finance Law and Mergers and Acquisitions, and co-written the LexisNexis Cross-Border Banking and Finance Guide for California. I even had the honor of being the Keynote Speaker for Loyola Law School’s Open House in 2019.
As a community advocate, I currently serve as General Counsel for Hate Is A Virus and a board member for Asian Americans Advancing Justice – SoCal. I was awarded as an Asian Hustle Network 2021 Top 50 Unsung Heroes and selected as a Clubhouse app icon in 2022. I have been a speaker and host for many companies, including ABC News, Bank of America, Apple, and University of California at Irvine.
As an entrepreneur, I am the founder of Cali Star Entertainment, LLC, a multi-platform entertainment company created to inspire others to pursue possibility. The company is focused on breaking barriers and redefining empowerment through music, art, fashion, and community.
Combining my management consultant background and love for technology, I also work as a web3 advisor and builder, with proven experience as Head of Growth for several web3 projects. I was the Keynote Speaker for NFT LA in 2022 and am often interviewed for her web3 experience.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
If I had to pick three important qualities or skills, I would pick the following:
– Self-Awareness: There are many elements to this, but I would not be where I am today if I did not spend a lot of time learning more about myself, analyzing my strengths and weaknesses, and understanding my purpose. I think equally as important as knowing your long-term vision is knowing what season you’re in and understanding your list of priorities in the short-term as well. If you know yourself and are aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, how you’re feeling, what you’re working on, then you can better show up to make sure you’re hitting your short-term goals and ensure those all align with your longer-term purpose and vision.
– Hunger to Learn: I am constantly learning, and I love it. I look at learning as an opportunity to pick up a new tool for my figurative toolbelt. I’ll intentionally pick opportunities to stretch myself and grow my skillsets. An important element of this is also knowing where you stand on different skillsets and being willing to be humble and learn from others. I won’t be the best at everything, but if I’m improving on a skill or learning something new, that’s something that will stay with me. I carry all of my skillsets into every new and existing opportunity, so I spend a lot of time making sure I’m sharp with everything I’m doing in order to be more effective.
– Dedication to Execution: Many people have ideas, but execution is everything. I always try to have a gameplan to make sure I’m not executing blindly, whether it’s for myself, my company, or brands I advise or work with, but I have to hold my plans loosely because unexpected things come up. The key to executing well is to have that balance and to make the best with what you’re given. I look at it as an opportunity to show creativity under pressure. Things will not always be perfect, but it’s important to be dedicated to the execution and follow-through even if it requires troubleshooting sometimes. Using your advantages to overcome your disadvantages can help, and if you’re working with a team, it’s important to have experienced executors around you because there’s a grace under pressure that comes from our battle scars.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
It’s hard to choose, but if I had to pick right now, the most impactful thing my parents did for me is to teach me how to think strategically.
Growing up, my dad would give me brain teasers and puzzles to complete when we went out for meals or were in the car. He also trained me at a young age to think differently with the skills he developed as an immigrant who ended up successfully running companies here in America. He taught me to think like a CEO. He asked me to listen to money radio shows and financial news with him. He constantly brought me books to read about money, strategy, investing, Christianity, and more. He often gave me challenges that involved real-life activities and how to plan out the execution of a task with the most efficiency and limited resources. My dad also emphasized the importance of being able to understand people and to read situations well.
Now, I utilize all of these skills in my many careers and roles. I don’t think I would’ve been able to navigate my life in the same way if I hadn’t been trained by my parents with these skills at an early age.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.calistarentertainment.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caliwu/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calistarmusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caliwu/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/calistawu
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/calistarmusic
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3sc9RgG4kDSMtmfhxTGu8O Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/calistar/1585186857 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caliwu Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/@caliwu Linktree: https://linktr.ee/calistar
Image Credits
Cali Star Entertainment, LLC
